76. Rhyland

Rhyland

76

D ani had us twiddling our fucking thumbs in Luminara, waiting for the damn night to fall. This was all 'cause of the blowup with Adrian—a damn nuisance, but whatever.

The second we strut through the portal, time itself jerks around us, something you'd feel down to your bones. It's a weird-ass sensation, jumping through realities and ending up further along the timeline. Yet, in this mind-bending mess, time's still straight as an arrow across every damned realm. It makes zero sense, and it's disorienting as hell.

With a loud crack, the portal clamps shut.

One whiff of this world's air, and I am damn near ready to hurl—it's the polar opposite of Luminara's crisp atmosphere. Catching a glimpse of Erik, I can tell he is feeling the same damn thing.

And then there's Lucian, the little shit, who's acting like he's just stepped into a fucking perfumery. He takes a deep, exaggerated breath, a look of pure bliss spreading across his face. "AHHHH… the sweet, sweet aroma of piss, shit, and desperation. Oh, how I've missed the subtle nuances of this world's unique perfume."

He spreads his arms wide as if embracing the very essence of the place. "Breathe it in, my friends. Let the heady musk of human misery fill your lungs and invigorate your soul. It's the fragrance of life, of reality, of—"

"Of a fucking sewage plant," I cut him off, wrinkling my nose in disgust.

We're loitering in the back alley of Karma, and bam, memories of this shithole alley with Dani come flooding back. Can't forget this is the exact spot where I had to step in and save her from that dickhead Max. A warm rush of sweet realization floods through me, and shit, if I can't keep a grin from spreading across my face.

Dani pipes up, saying we should hold tight right here, banking on Azrael to show up any minute now.

She tosses a glance at Adrian, quirking an eyebrow. "Okay, explain—the big mystery. What's his deal with my portal popping? Does he have some sixth sense or what?" she quips.

Adrian tells her thoughtfully, "Yes, exactly—he can detect its presence. He can determine exactly where it is and harness the leftover energy it emits to replicate one of his own with the stone."

Dani nods in agreement, and we all settle in to wait.

And just like clockwork, here comes the leech.

From the corner of my eye, I see that goddamn black and oily portal start to take form. The scumbag Azrael slips out, the real fucking piece of work he is.

Danica's hands light up, ready to rain down a storm of hell.

The stench of rotten eggs and sulfur almost knocks me over as Azrael emerges from the portal, his tiny rat-like eyes bulging in surprise. In the blink of an eye, that cowardly son of a bitch has Adrian tangled up in a shadow tendril and using him like a damn human shield.

Damn it, Dani pauses, her angel fire temporarily held back. If she let it loose now, Adrian would be toast—literally. Those magic-nulling cuffs he's wearing leave him as helpless as a goddamn fly caught in the web, Azrael using him like some fucking disposable meat shield.

"Adrian, you disloyal snake," Azrael sneers, his voice dripping contempt. "First, you turn your back on your own blood, and now you try to play me for a fool? I should've known better than to trust someone who betrays their own kind."

Adrian's eyes flick over to us, desperation reflecting in them. And honestly? I can't seem to rustle up any fucking sympathy for him at the moment. Azrael's right—though it makes my gut churn to even think that.

Something in me's switched off, dead cold, and all I can feel is the urge to do fucking damage.

"You know how this goes," I growl at Azrael, my voice slicing through the tension like a razor-sharp knife. "Let the traitor fucking go, or you'll feel my wrath."

It's no idle threat, not here and now. If he doesn't untangle himself from Adrian, I'll unleash hell on Azrael's sorry ass, and no one's gonna be there to pull me back.

Dani's firm voice slices through the tension. "Drop him, Azrael." The flames in her hands dance wildly, ready to be unleashed. "He's not part of your twisted collection."

"Oh, come now." Azrael glares at Dani, dark, pitiless eyes narrowing. "Turns out you can't blast your holy flames my way while dear Adrian's my shield. Seems to me the kid's untouched by your special blend—what's the name you gave it?"

How the hell does Azrael know about Dani's blood and what it does?

My mind's racing, trying to piece this shit together, when it hits me like a punch in the gut.

In a flash of fury, I realize—fucking Adrian who spilled the goddamn secret. My temper flares like some uncontrollable goddamn wildfire. "You son of a bitch," I snarl, barely managing to hold myself back from ripping Adrian's throat out with my bare hands.

And right on cue, I see that same flash of guilt in Adrian's eyes. So, he knows he fucked up, he knows the shitstorm he just brought down on us.

But it's not enough; it's never fucking enough to make up for this goddamn betrayal.

As my eyes lock onto Adrian's, the silent promise of vengeance hanging heavy in the air, I feel my power surge, ready to do whatever it takes to save Dani and bring that bastard Azrael down.

Because fuck this, I won't let anyone get in the way of protecting her, not even my own brother.

"How—?" Dani starts, but I cut her off in her mind.

"Adrian told him, isn't it obvious?" I seethe.

The sting of that damn betrayal hits me like it's ripping through my chest all over again. My gut is twisted up, echoing every damn knot Dani's got carved into her heart—spilling her deepest secret about her blood.

"Dani, I'm so sor—" Adrian starts, but Azrael silences him with a quick lash of a shadow tendril before he can say another word.

"Don't even bother with your sorry-ass excuses, Adrian. It's damn pathetic," Azrael spits venomously. "Everyone's got an earful of your treachery already, and if you look at your so-called big brother," Azrael looks right at me, "it's clear as hell he gives zero fucks about your fate."

Dani shrugs, trying to brush off the gravity of the situation, her resolve hardening against the asshole threatening Adrian. "Rewind, Azrael. Do you really think you can just waltz out of here? Just so you know, I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth to snatch that shiny rock off your finger—if I have to chop it off, so be it."

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it, darling," he sneers maliciously. "Since your precious blood holds the source of light and day itself, I'll have every last vampire lining up at your doorstep, thirsting for a taste." He breaks into sinister, maniacal laughter. "And when they finally catch you—because, oh, sweet girl—every last one of them is working for me—I'll enjoy your 'special sauce' first-hand, as you so endearingly put it!"

I glare at Azrael, barely holding back the fury seething inside me. His sunken eyes lock onto mine, filled with pure hatred. The urge to tear him apart is almost overwhelming, considering what he's already done and the chaos he's about to unleash. Fucking opening Pandora's box is an understatement; this will screw everything up.

"Ah yes, our dear Adrian has been quite enlightening," Azrael confesses, a devious smile curling his lips. "He's shared a wealth of information about your magical little secrets, most notably the special blood that flows through your veins—a precious gift from dear ol' daddy that I'm simply dying to taste… again."

"Give Adrian and his never-ending blather a massive 'fuck you.' Do it, Dani—maybe then we can all catch a break!" Lucian hollers from behind us.

But I know Dani—she's got a heart of gold, and her empathy is her biggest and powerful weakness. It makes her vulnerable, but it's also what drives her to do what's right, even when it's damn near impossible—and Azrael knows this.

My patience shatters like a goddamn twig. "Enough of this bullshit!" I bellow, unleashing a tidal wave of telekinetic rage. Azrael and that traitorous prick Adrian are blasted back like ragdolls, their bodies smashing into the wall with a sickening crunch. The impact's so brutal it fractures the bricks, sending chunks of debris raining down.

But even as I bear down on them with the full force of my powers, Azrael, the slimy bastard, clings to Adrian like a fucking parasite. He's using my own brother as a meat shield in this fucked-up standoff. The audacity of this manipulative piece of shit knows no bounds.

The air crackles with energy around us as I clench my fists, desperate to crush Azrael and free Adrian from his cruel clutches. If anyone is going to deal with Adrian, it's me. Yet, despite the anger and frustration boiling inside me, I can't help but feel that this brutal course of action might make matters worse, dragging us deeper into a dangerous conflict that none of us are truly prepared for.

Face contorted in rage, I grit my teeth, trying to decide my next move—the uncertainty and fear gnawing at my insides. This tense standoff cannot last forever.

Azrael's smug smile pisses me off even more. He thinks he's already won, this asshole. "Ready to give up yet?" he taunts.

"Not by a fucking long shot." I bellow—my anger and determination more than matched by my ability to focus my powers with laser precision.

"Rhyland—no!" Dani shouts, "Stop!" but it's too late.

I slam my energy into Azrael once more, intending to end this once and for all. But he anticipates my move and quickly surrounds himself with an impenetrable shroud of darkness, teleporting out of harm's way just in time.

My heart sinks as I watch with horror asAdrian, caught in the line of fire, takes the full brunt of my blow. Unable to dodge or defend himself,Adrianis slammed against the nearby wall with lethal force. The sickening sound of shattering bone fills the air as his skull cracks upon impact, and my stomach roils at the sight of his limp form crumpled on the ground.

"Adrian…" Dani's cry rips through me, her voice raw with pain, scratching at my guts.

In a flash of dark energy, Azrael reappears on the other side of the alley, a smug grin spreading across his face as he watches me struggle with the heavy weight of my guilt and fury. His vampire blurring is erratic, popping in and out of existence with a familiar, disorienting sound. I can't help but feel the bitter taste of defeat at the back of my throat as I realize the depths of Azrael's cunning and cruelty.

"Ah, such a pity about dear Adrian," Azrael coos with mock sympathy. "But no worries, he'll likely still be useful after he...heals. Or, even better—"

"Dani, now!"Erik's voice bellows through the chaos, urging her to strike while Azrael is momentarily distracted.

Dani calls upon her power with a fierce cry, crackling energy at her fingertips—unleashing blinding bolts of white light that streak through the alley. But Azrael, always cunning and elusive, seems to anticipate her moves. With a sinister smile, he shadows himself again, narrowly dodgingDani's attacks with a blink of dark energy.

Despite the frustration of missing her target,Dani's resolve remains unwavering. Fueled by fury and determination, she hurls waves of radiant power at Azrael, determined to land a hit no matter the cost. Her failed hits hit the alley walls, scorching and crumbling at impact.

Dani's time warp mojo kicks into high gear, and she's zipping around the alley like a goddamn superhero, hot on Azrael's heels as they both blink in and out of existence. Dani's hurling her light like it's going out of style, while Azrael's countering with his shadow bullshit, trying to snuff her out.

Then it's quiet. We all stand there, on bated breaths, waiting.

Then my heart stops cold. No... No, no, no! This can't be fucking happening. Azrael stands behind Dani, materializing out of nowhere.

I begin to blur forward, "DANI!" Her name rips from my throat, raw and desperate. But I'm batted back and thrown against the brick wall.

Time seems to slow as I watch that vile shadow wrap around her, squeezing the air from her lungs. Her eyes are wide with terror, a silent scream frozen on her lips.

My heart races, fearing the worst, as I see her swinging at nothing but air, fighting for breath.

Before Erik, Lucian, or I can even fucking blink, that bastard Azrael seizes the moment, trapping us in his goddamn shadow fuckery. We're hurled against the alley wall like ragdolls, pinned down and choking on that suffocating shadow shit. All I can do is watch, helpless, as Azrael lunges at Adrian, who's still trying to get his bearings after the last thrashing. Adrian's giving it his all, grappling with Azrael looming over him, clutching his arm in a death grip as Azrael goes for the unthinkable, the twisted fuck.

"You won't win, boy." With a brutal, swift movement, Azrael plunges his hand into Adrian's chest and rips out his heart. The sight of it sends a wave of nausea through me—the true death.

Dani's suffocating scream pierces the air, a sound so full of anguish and despair that it feels like it'll shatter my soul. My chest feels heavy; I can't breathe as I feel her heartache reverberate through our bond.Erik and Lucian are in the same struggling choke hold as I am; their expression is equally pained, knowing that Dani's grief over Adrian's death is mirrored in my agony.

We are held here in shock and horror, unable to react as Azrael carelessly tossesAdrian's heart, "Let this be a lesson to every last one of you," Azrael sneers, spitting on Adrian's heart. "Cross me, get in my way, and you'll suffer a fate far worse than this pitiful excuse." he kicks Adrian's body. "Time for me to exit. And I think…" Azrael looks at Dani, still struggling, "I will take a trade." he moves toward Dani.

Out of fucking nowhere, we all drop to the ground like a bunch of limp noodles. We're all sprawled on the ground, gasping for air like fish out of water.Dani's coughing up a lung, clutching her throat, desperately sucking in oxygen.Lucian,Erik, and I are right there with her, massaging our necks, trying to get our shit together. I glimpse at Azrael; even he looks like he's been sucker-punched.

He tries to summon his shadow fuckery again, but something's not right. The confusion on his face says it all. Then, before anyone can react, he's onDaniin a flash, trying to haul her up over his shoulder like she's nothing.Dani's barely standing, but she's a fighter, clawing and thrashing with every ounce of strength she's got left.

They keep going at it, trading blows like there's no fucking tomorrow, but it's plain as day that Dani's running out of gas. She's not about to throw in the towel, though. She whips out her daggers and starts twirling them like a goddamn ninja, ready to carve Azrael a new one.

My heart's pounding out of my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins. We've got to make a move, and fast, before that son of a bitch gets away with my girl.

I'm consumed by an overwhelming urge to protect what's mine. The memory of losing Dani in the Whispering Woods rips my heart like a jagged blade. Never again. I won't let that happen. Not on my fucking watch.

I pour every last drop of agony, every fucking ounce of white-hot rage, into this one moment. The air around me is alive, crackling with wild, untamed energy as I feel the world tilt on its axis. Storm clouds roll in like an invading army, the metallic tang of ozone flooding my senses. Lightning splits the sky, a jagged, blinding display of nature's fury, and I can feel that same electric power dancing at my fingertips, begging to be unleashed. The distant rumble of thunder grows, swelling into a deafening crescendo that drowns out every other sound, a primal roar that shakes me to my core.

With a guttural cry that shakes the very foundations of the earth, I unleash a blinding tempest of light and energy targeted at this piece of shit. The force of it is so intense that it leaves me momentarily blind and deaf, my ears popping and ringing like crazy.

As that intense feeling dissipates, the smell of ozone fills my senses. I'm left wondering if my desperate stand made a damn bit of difference. Did I put an end to this nightmare once and for all? I don't know. All I know is that the strength to protect Dani and have my brothers' backs are the only things keeping me going. It's all I've got left in this fucked up world.

My legs buckle, and I crash onto the concrete, furiously looking for any hint of Azrael—no sign or trace.

Dani bolts toward Adrian's fallen form in a flash, collapsing to her knees beside him. Time warps strangely around me; the only anchor in the chaos is the rise and fall of my own breath. Lost in a fog, I have no damn clue how much time slips by before I spot Dani—with her face streaked in tears—rushing in my direction.

She lunges at me, and I nearly lose my balance. Her tears flow freely, and I can feel her anguish searing through me. How can she still hold such a tender spot for Adrian? He backstabbed her —he betrayed us. Yet, I wonder if he deserved a gruesome death like that.

Before I can react, her hand connects with my face in a resounding slap.

"Why did you do that? I told you to stop!" she cries between sobs. Though my ears are still ringing, her agony is etched on her face. "We could've spared him, Rhyland!" she screams at me through her tears, her voice thick with pain and anger. "Now, I'll never be able to find my mother! He knew how!"

My heart's being ripped to fucking shreds, torn apart by the whirlwind of chaos churning inside me. It's gotta be that new stone she's rocking, cranking her emotions up to eleven while she's drowning in everyone else's bullshit too.

With vampiric speed,Luciangrabs hold of her, effortlessly pulling her away from me. He maintains his grip despite her thrashing and protests, attempting to ease her fury. "Whoa there, Princess!"Lucianchuckles, his voice dripping with that special brand of condescending snark that makes me want to knee him in the balls. "Let's take a deep breath and count to ten before we regret something, like, say, rearrangingRhy's pretty-boy features into an abstract art piece."

Dani kicks and screams like a cat in a straight jacket.

"Come on,Dani, we all know that traitor had it coming," Lucian informs her, no bullshit tone.

Dani's anger flares, her eyes blazing, as she turns her fiery temper toward all of us. "He's your brother! How could you treat him like he's disposable?" She spits the words, "He made mistakes, sure, but he was trying to fix them!" Dani is beside herself with anger and sorrow, yelling and crying as her words tumble out. "Why couldn't you listen to me? Azrael wanted us to react—to hit first. And you fed right into his trap! He didn't need to die." The torrent of her emotions, raw and unfiltered, leaves me reeling as I struggle to come up with an answer that could ease her pain.

I observe the scene unfolding before me, my heart heavy with worry and exasperation. Lucian gathers a struggling, swearing Dani into his arms, her anguish and fury spilling out in a stream of creative profanities.

I knew damn well what the consequences of my lashing out would be, but in that moment, I didn't give a fuck. My sense of betrayal and the white-hot anger consuming me took the reins, dictating my every move.

"Whoa there, Spitfire!" Lucian grunts, narrowly avoiding a fist to the face. "Let's get you inside before you go full 'Woman on a Warpath' and start laying waste to the innocent landscaping."

Danisnarls, her eyes blazing with a heartbreak and terrifying fury. "Fuck you,Lucian! Put me down before I scorch your dick off!"

ButLuciantightens his grip, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Not gonna happen, sweetheart. You're hurt, you're pissed, and you're about two seconds away from going nuclear. So why don't you take a deep breath, let me get you inside, and we can figure out how to make that bastard pay?"

I can see the fight drain out ofDaniat his words, her anger giving way to a bone-deep exhaustion that makes my heart ache. With a shuddering sigh, she slumps againstLucian's chest, silent tears streaming down her face.

As they disappear into the club, I run a hand through my hair, feeling like the world's biggest asshole. I should be the one comforting her, the one helping her through this nightmare. But instead, I'm out here, wallowing in my own guilt and self-pity like a fucking coward.

Her sobs become distant as I stay kneeling on the cold concrete, my mind racing to make sense of the chaotic shitstorm that just went down. The fucking lightning answered my call again, and now I've lost one of my own in a battle that could've been goddamn prevented! My emotions are reeling—that son of a bitchAdrianscrewed us over royally! Now, Azrael is aware ofDani's blood and the goddamn power it holds—I can only imagine how many vampires will be hunting her down when Azrael decides to let the bastards loose.

AsLuciantakes care ofDani, the intense pressure of guilt and responsibility crashes over me. I'm left to face the grim reality of the dangerous implications ahead.

"Come on. We can't spend all goddamn night out here,"Erikurges, extending his hand to help me up. As my brother, he's always been a steadfast presence in my life. With a heavy heart, I reluctantly tear my gaze away from him and glance down the deserted alley, whereAdrian's lifeless form lies—grayed and decomposed, as is the fate of our vampire kin in the throes of true death.

I can't shake the disappointment and anger simmering within me, and as I takeErik's hand, I let out a heavy sigh. We have more pressing matters to attend to, and dwelling on Adrian's loss won't bring him back or protectDanifrom the grave danger that awaits her.

"I need to take care ofAdrian's body and..." I begin, feeling a deep sense of responsibility toward my younger brother despite his betrayal. I can't help but feel a heavy burden weighing on my shoulders.

"Don't worry about it,Rhyland. I'll handleAdrian,"Erikreassures me, his voice steady and resolute as he steps forward to take on the grim task. "Go inside and be withDani. I'll join you as soon as I'm finished," he adds, giving me a reassuring nod.

At this moment, I am grateful for Erik's support, and with a curt nod, I turn my attention toward the looming challenge ahead: facing the wrath of my Angel.